Pick for musical instruments.



No. 756,348. PATENTED APR. 5, 1904 J. A. FORNEY.

PICK FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLIGATION 211.31) JAN. 22, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

INVENTOR UNITED STATES i atented April 5 1904.

JOHN A. FORNEY, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA.

PICK FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS- SPECIFICATI ON forming part of Letters Patent No. 756,348, dated April 5, 1904.

Application filed January 22 1904. Serial No. 190,131. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN A. FORNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Reading, in the county of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Picks for Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in stringed-musical-instrument picks of that class which are in the form of skeleton thimbles adapted to be placed upon the ends of the fingers.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, durable, and comparatively inexpensive device of this character which will effectively protect the finger-tip of the user without interfering in the least with his playing.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hand with three of my improved picks applied to its fingers. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of a pick for one of the fingers. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a pick for use upon the thumb.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 denotes a pick adapted for use upon one of the fingers of the hand and comprising an annu-' lar band or ring-like body portion 2 and a striking or picking portion 3 in the form of bottom or under side is an open semicircular projecting portion 5, which serves as a brace for the picking portion or loop 3 and also as a shield or guard for the finger-tip to prevent it from coming in' contact with the strings of the musical instrument. The said projecting portion 5 is preferably formed integral with the ring or band, as shown, and extends approximately half the length of the picking portion or loop 3 or as far as the end of the finger-tip, so as to effectively protect it and provide a sufiicient bearing for the under side and end ofthe finger. The picking portion or loop 3 is substantially semicircular in form, extending longitudinally around the end of the finger and having one of its ends secured to the top of the body portion 2, adjacent to the opening 4, and its other end secured to the brace portion 5 and the bottom of said body portion 2. Said loop 3 is preferably constructed of stilf wire, and its ends are soldered or otherwise secured to the body portion. At the center of the loop, in line with the'finger, is formed an abrupt projection or point 6, which engages the string of the musical instrument in playing thereon. By making the portion 3 substantially round or of semicircular form and forming the same with an abvrupt point, as shown, it will be seen that the strings of the instrument may be readily engaged and released by a very limited movement of the fingers and any one string may be readily picked without liability of sounding the adjacent strings.

In Figs. 1 and 50f the drawings I have illustrated a pick 11 which is adapted for use upon the thumb. It comprises a split band or ringlike body portion 12, similar to the body portion 2 of the finger-pick 1, and a picking por tion or loop 13, which corresponds to the portion 3 of the said finger-pick. The said loop 13, however, instead of being at right angles is disposed diagonally or at an angle of about forty-five degrees with respect to the body portion, and the brace portion 5 of the fingerpick 1 is omitted in the thumb-pick 11, since it is unnecessary to make said loop of great length, and the band or body portion 12 amply protects the end of the thumb.

The use, operation, and advantages of my invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that said picks are placed, as shown in Fig. 1, upon the ends of the thumb and as many of the fingers as it is necessary to use in performing upon the instrument to be played.

By the use of my improved picks a more positive action of the fingers upon the strings is obtained, and the wear which usually comes upon the fingers and finger-nails is thrown upon the picks, so that the fingers are prevented from becoming sore and the nails from being-broken. By the provision of the combined brace and guard portion 5 the pick is materially strengthened and a sufficient bearingsurface is provided for the ends of the fingers at the point where the greatest strain occurs. By making the loops 3 and 13 round, with the point 7 very abrupt, the strings may be picked with greater ease, since it is not necessary to raise the fingers from the strings to any great extent.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion,

and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A pick comprising an annular band, adapted to be placed on the end of a finger, split transversely on its upper side and having an outwardly-projecting portion on its lower side, for the purpose set forth, and a substantially semicircular loop, projecting from the front side of the band, having its ends attached to the upper and lower sides thereof, and provided on its front side with an abrupt projection forming a picking-point, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. FORNEY.

Witnesses: 7

CHARLES KOGHER, THOMAS H. Seminar. 

